Valve



F. W. HICKS VALVE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1957 hm nm :v am Y l RH. N* m. \M mw l N m A /vw mm E x? r e 5 f w R m F l ww om BN Nm 1 QN l B 3 WN nw t.) \n www NN .0N `WJ www \v .U E Q s QN U w wb @v In N. Q W m Pull WW i l I Q n n@ pw Il. o n *W NN /%//2J7Q @7g/ AT TOR NEYs '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. W. HICKS VALVE `lune 14, 196D' Filed Sept. 30, 1957 INVENTOR FREDERICK W. HICKS ATTORNEY S June 14, 196 F. w. HICKS 2,940,475

VALVE Filed sept. 30, i957 7 sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR FRE DERICK W. HICKS ATTORNEYS June 14, 1960 F. w. HICKS 2,940,475

VALVE Filed Sept. 50, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FREDERICK w H|cKs ATTORNEYS June 14, 1960 r. w. HICKS 1 Y 2,940,475

, VALVE Filed Sept` 30, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i@ Il INVENTOR FREDERICK W. HICKS ATTORNEYS .June 14, 1960 r-. w. HlcKs VALVE 'T Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 30, 1957 elm@ 2.

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INVENTOR FREDERICK W. HICKS BY 2%/ y ///v ATTORNEYS June 14, 1960 Filed Sept. 30, 1957 F. W. HICKS VALVE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR FREDERICK W. HICKS ATTORNEYS nited States VALVE Filed Sept. v3l), 1957, Ser. No. 686,918

6 Claims. (Cl. IS7- 623) This invention appertains broadly to valves for controlling uid operated mechanisms, such as reciprocating pistons and the like, and more particularly to a pressure operated selector pilot lhead lfor actuating such control valves.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to pro vide an improved selector valve mechanism for cooperation with a piston operated poppet valve initiated for controlling the ow and exhaust of iluid from an operating mechanism, the selector valve mechanism being automatic in operation and functioning in connection with a balanced solenoid operated valve for directing the uid under pressure to the piston end or" the poppet valve for actuating the same.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of spring pressed selector valves carried by a pilot head and disposed between the control valve and the balanced solenoid operated valve for permitting the correct ow of tluid under pressure from the control valve to the piston end of the control valve upon energizing of the balanced solenoid valve, the arrangement of the spring pressed selector Valves being such that pilot pressure is maintained at the piston end of the control valve as long as the solenoid remains energized.

A further important object of rny invention is the provision of novelly arranged automatically operated selector check valves in the passageway of a pilot head for a control valve, whereby not only the correct and proper ow of uid is directed to the piston end of a poppet control valve, but whereby such pressure is automatically maintained at the desired and correct times.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel organization of poppet control valves and pilot heads, so that the two can be easily associated together and whereby interchangeability of pilot heads and poppet control valves is assured.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view, through a poppet control valve and its pilot head, the view showing the poppet valve in one of its two positions for permitting the ow of fluid under pressure to an operating cylinder;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the poppet valve in the other of its two positions with the solenoid valve energized and the ow of fluid from the pilot head to the piston end of the poppet valve for permitting the exhaust of uid from an operating cylinder;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the control valve and pilot head taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing one of the automatic selector valves unseated by pressure and the other selector valve on its seat;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the arent ICC control valve and selector head, but taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view illustrating certain of the cavities and passageways for the ow of uid under pressure to and from the pilot head;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing the cavities in the bottom of the control valve for the ow and exhaust of uid to and from an operating cylinder;

Figure 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating the layout of the cavities, ports and passageways in the control valve and pilot head, the position of the various parts corresponding to Figure 1, of the drawings;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the position of operating parts corresponding to Figure 2;

Figure l0 is a diagrammatic view showing the use of the device with la spring return operating piston, the view showing the ow of fluid under pressure to the cylinder against the tensionof the spring, the view corresponding to Figures 1 and 8, when the control valve and selector head are utilized with a spring return piston;

Figure 1l is a View similar to Figure 10, but showing the exhaust oi the liuid from the cylinder, the view corresponding to Figures 2 and 9 when the control valve and pilot are utilized with a spring return piston;

Figure l2 -is a diagrammatic View illustrating the use of a normally open and a normally closed control valve at the opposite ends of a double acting pressure operated piston;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure l2, but showing uid being exhausted from the opposite end of the cylinder from Figure 12 and uid under pressure entering the other end of the cylinder;

All of the above views show the use of a single solenoid operated balanced valve with a three-way control valve;

Figure 14 is a schematic sectional view showing a double control valve for use centrally of -a double acting operating piston, the View showing diagrammatically the arrangement of the cavities, ports and passageways for suchrvalve, the View also showing the entrance of uid Aunder pressure to one end of the cylinder and the exhausting of fluid from the other end of the cylinder;

Figure l5 is a view similar to Figure 14 but showing the position of parts with the flow and exhaust of liuid from the opposite ends of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 14;

Figures 14 and 15 are illustrative of a four-way valve.

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view through my improved pilot head showing the balanced valve operated to its open and closed position by solenoids arranged at each end of the valve stem.

Referring -to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C generally indicates a control valve of the three-way type and H the novel pilot head therefor.

The control valve C comprises a hollow casing 20 open at its opposite ends, and said ends are closed and sealed by removable heads 21 and 22. 'I'he casing is firmly secured by bolts 23 to a base 24. The casing 20 includes a central chamber 25 and extending into the c asing are valve seats 26 and 27. The valve seats are sealed within the casing and their inner ends extend into the central chamber 2S. .The valve seats 26 and 27 are insertable n Vthe casing Y through'the open ends thereof and'again, VYthe ends 'of the casing are closed'by the heads 21 and`22. O-rings 28 are provided for insuring a fluid tight con- .neotion between .the valve seats and adjacent walls of rThe-base24 includes a Ycentralcavity'33 and end cavi- Y ties 34 and 35. Y:The central cavity .33 communicates at all times with the central chamber 25. 'Ihe -cavity 34 oornmunicateswith the casing at one .side of the central Y 'Y `chaiuberand .thecavity 35Vcommunicateswith the `casing ronfthe opposite side of the central chamber 25. Inward ofits valve seat face, Ythe valveseatltis provided `with por-ts 36 Ywhich communicate with the interior of the casing v20 and the cavi-ty34. The valve seat 27 is provided with ports 37 which communicate with the. interior of the'casing 2.0 and the cavity 3.5.' The central Vcavity is provided with a por-t 38 having a conduit or pipe v39 Y leading therefrom-aud this lconduit or pipe can be con- LLsidered fas leading tofan operating cylinder, as will be Ylater setfortln The cavity 34 isY provided with .a port A*From kthe description so'far, it can be seenfthat whenV dinally extending cavities 57 land 58 for-med in the lower face of the foot part 45 of the block-44. The valve casing A20 of the control valve C atthe valveV seat end 26 is provided witha port59 whichcommunicates with the cavity 57. Thecasing 20 at the valve seat side 27 is provided with a port :60 which communicates with the cavity 58.' A gasket 61.is vprovided between the block 44 and the top of the casing 20 and is only provided with with the necessary opening for establishing communication between the :pilot headthe the valve C, .as will later Yappear. Y

Now referring back to the steppedV bore47, .the same has slidably mounted Atherein Va balanced pilot valve 62 Vhaving its valve body portion 63 slidably fitted on an f munication between the common passageway 52 and the the poppet valve body 31 is in the position showngin -Figurel flow of Yluid'under pressure is permitted Vthrough fthe valveseat Z7 to the'central hamberr25, through the `cavity Y33 and outport 38 to thecylinder. When pressure is applied to the piston.-end"30 `of thepoppet VVvalve assembly the poppet valve -will be moved on the seat 27 ass'hown inV Figure ,2, and tiow of `iiuid underrpressure AtotheV .cylinder --isY stopped `and exhaust of fluid .from the' ...cylinder is permitted throughvpipe39v, yport 38, central cavity-3-3, chamber 25 through valve4V seat ,26, ports 36, `:cavity34gandoutlpipe 41. Y

The casing 20 is `provided with certain other` passage- Ways=for communication lwith certain passageways in vthe pilot E-head H, -as willbe later described.

VAThe .pilot head .Hfinclud'es a block 44 of'asizeV and Y shape which 'can be. conveniently `anddetachably ttedr on `the.upper.facevof'the control valve C. The block 44 is of an L shape and hence'includes a substantially at shapedfoot 45 and anlupstanding-arm 46. The arm 46 is provided witha horizontally extending stepped bore. 47 4. vszhiohfopensout through `the V,opposite sides thereof. v YCornmunieating'with' =the.bore.adjacent'to but=spaced-from gitsinnerendisavertically;extendingfway 48. {Ihisway passageway 48V leading to thenpiston end 30 of the poppet valve assemblyV (see Fig. 1). When ythe balancedpilot valve 62 is in Ithe position shown in FigurevjZ, then communication is established between the common -way'52 and the way 48. It is to be also noted, that the stemof the pilot valve is provided with Ya cylindrical head 65 which slidably engages the wall of thebore andthis head and the valve body ,portion.63 are of equal diameter and the head 65 is disposed atall times laterally andinwar'd of the common passageway 52. Hence, any pressure in way 52 acting on the valve body portion 63 and the 'head 65 Will `balance the pilot valve. .'l'herpilotV valve 'is normally held in ltheposition ,shown Eig. l toblock vcommunication between passageways 15,2fand 48. jby *an Aexpansionspring 66. This expansion spring 66 engages against a springretainer 67 whichA is threaded into the bore, and it is to be noted `that this -springretainer is provided with a by-pass port 6 8, .thcgpurpose of whihwill later appear. It isto be noted, however, that when the Apilot valveis in the .positionvshown Fig. .1., flow qflliluld from the pistonend 3B of the control valvedis permitted L thrughlthe by-pass port 68. heinnerend Qfthasiem of 'the valverextends outwardY of the borean'djis operatedby a solenoid 69, when the solenoid'isrenergized. `'It might be noted, at this point, that a button'70 is provided for manually operating the lsolenoid when such need arises. The velectricvwiring 7 1 forthe solenoidleads out of the block 44 and suitable electric controls, not shown, are providedJfo'r opening `and closing fa circuit through 'the windings ,ofthe solenoid.V The `-solenoid is hou sed1byl a suitable cover 72. i

From the .description Sogfar it can bessen, withthe poppet valvrefin Vits position s hownfinjEigure jLthat Yiiow Vo'filuid underfpressureV is permitted". througltthe control valve, ,through port Y425, valve s eat 27, cavity' 33 through port 3S to an operating cylinder. V"Upon the Yenergizing ofthe solenoid 69o, the pilot valve 'V62 will be shifted to thelefttsee Figure'Z), 'and theair undernres- Vsure from Vthe valvecasing flowing through cavity Y58 and passageway 51, will unseat thehck Valve 56 and Yhold the check valve 54 on ,its seat. '[hefvfluidfllowing through passageway 52 will enter. passageway f18 e,1 r1vl r .pas sageway ,49 `to'thepiston end foflthcpoppet volverassembly andthe poppet valve will br/Slif'tdto tlieleft V(Figure 2)V causing the valve .-tornove oiof `,itssHeatiZ Vand against the seat 27. V'This will shut oft'theiflQWpf iiuid Vfrom Vpipe 4'3 to theicentr'al chamber ,25 dand air canV be. exhaustedv Vfrom an` operatingV cylinder@ `the cenftr'al passagewayZS ythrough valve Aseatftt kto.cavityj34 and out pipe ,41. Flow of .air Yunder pressure'against the 'piston of the poppet valve assembly 29 reducespres- :sure on top of ther-check valve 56.V When the'iluidunder pressure again-reaches `balance onthe oppositepideof the check valve 56,7the check valve .again greseatsfitself .by means of'its spring and maintains-tht; pilotlgpressure YbehindfIhe pistonof the poppet valve, Vas-.longgas,theV

solenoid remains energized. This Vtraps the air V@the ycavity a S8 .and '..thelowercm ofthe :message 51- This is important, as it preventsuttering or motoring of the poppet valve assembly.

When the solenoid 69 is de-energized, the spring 66 will return the pilot valve to the position shown in Fig. 1, in view of the fact that pressure on the pilot valve is balanced. Pressure on the poppet valve body 31 will return the poppet valve assembly to the position shown in Fig. 1, and air can escape behind the piston through passageways 49 and 48, bore 47 and vent port 68.

The operation, just described, takes place when the control valve is of the normally open type and when the control valve is of the normally closed type, i.e., pressure normally cut olf and with the position of the exhaust and pressure conduits 41 and 43 reversed; then the operation is as follows: The poppet valve assembly 29 Willthen normally be in the position shown in Figure 8 and pressure enters through conduit 41, cavity 34 through cylinder chamber, cavity 57 and port 59. This pressure unseats the check valve 54 and the pressure then ows through central passageway 52. At this time, the pilot valve is in its closed position as shown in Figure 8. Upon operation of the pilot valve 62 by its solenoid the same is moved to its position shown in Figure 9 and pressure then ows into the vertical way 48 into the piston chamber forcing the piston over with its valve to the position shown in Fig. 9. At this time, the pressure will hold check valve 56 on its seat. Flow of air under pressure against the piston of the poppet valve assembly 29 reduces pressure on top of the check valve 54. When the fluid under pressure again reaches balance on the opposite sides of the check valve 54, the check valve again reseats itself by means of its spring and maintains the pilot pressure behind the piston of the poppet valve as long as the solenoid remains energized.

, The control valve with its pilot head has many uses and in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, I have shown two uses thereof. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the use of one control valve with an operating cylinder 73 having a spring returned piston 74'. Thus, pipe 39 leads to one end of the cylinder. With an open valve, as shown in Fig. 1, the air ows through the control valve into the cylinder and operates the piston 74 against its spring. When the solenoid 69 is energized, ow of inid under pressure to pipe 39 is cut olf and this pipe then communicates with the exhaust pipe 41 and the spring returns the piston to the left (see Figure 3), and the nid is exhausted from the left hand end of the piston through the control to the atmosphere or other desired point.

In Figures 12 and 13, I have shown a double acting cylinder 75 and its piston 76 is moved back and forth in the cylinder by pressure operating on the opposite sides of the piston. With the double acting piston, I utilize a control valve and its pilot head H at each end of the cylinder, and this eliminates extensive piping where the operating cylinder is of a considerable length. In this arrangement one control valve C can be considered as normally open (the left hand side), and the other control valve C (on the right hand side), can be considered normally closed. The pipes 43 from the control valves lead to a common supply pipe 77 and with the control valve C at the left normally open, pressure ows through the control valve to the left hand end of the cylinder forcing the piston 76 to the right. As the valve C on the right hand side of the piston is normally closed (to pressure), tluid is exhausted through this valve and out pipe 41. With the positions of the poppet valves reversed in the control valve C (see Figure 13), pressure enters from the control at the right to the right hand end of the cylinder, forcing the piston 76 to the left and fluid is exhausted from this end of the cylinder through the control valve C at the left hand side.

In certain installations it may be desirable to employ a four-way control valve and this valve is diagrammatic- :ally shown in Figures 14 and 15, and is indicated by the reference character 78. In elect, the four-way valve 78 consists of two control valves C shown in Figures 1 `to 13, inclusive, formed in a single unit. Thus, the four-Way valve 78 includes a casing 79 with control valves 80 and 81 therein. The control valve 80 and control valve 81 are each provided respectively with a central chamber 82 and 83. Control valve on each side of the central chamber is provided with valve seats 84 and 85. Control valve 81 on opposite sides of its central chamber is provided with valve seats 86 and 87. A poppet valve assembly 88 is provided for control valve 80 and a poppet valve assembly 89 is provided for control valve 81.

Communicating with control valve S0 on the left hand side of valve seat 84 is a passageway 90, which has communicating therewith a supply pipe 91 for fluid under pressure. Communicating with control valve 81 on the left hand side of its seat 86 is an exhaust passageway 92 and this passageway has communicating therewith an exhaust pipe 93. Communicating with the central passageway 82 of control valve 80 is a passageway 94 and this passageway can be connected by a pipe 95 to one end of a double acting cylinder 96. VThe central chamber 83 of the control valve 81 has communicating therewith a passageway 97 which connects with the opposite end of the cylinder 96 by a pipe 98. In this unit set up, the control valves 80 and 81 are connected by diagonally extending ports or passageways 99 and 100. The passageway 99 establishes communicationbetween the control valve 80 on the right hand side of its seat 85 with the control valve 81 on the left hand side of its seat 86. The

passageway 100 establishes communication between the control valve 80 on the left hand side of its seat 84 with control valve 81 on the right hand side of its seat 87.

The pilot head part for this unit includes a bore 101 having slidably mounted therein a balanced solenoid operated pilot valve 102. The bore has communicating there-- with a passageway 103 which in turn communicates with the control valves 80 and 81 at the piston ends 104 and of the poppet valve assemblies 88 and 89, of the control valves 80 and 81. Also communicating with the bore 101 is a passageway 106 which is common to certain passageways 107 and 108. Passageway 107 communicates with control valve 80 on the left hand side of its seat 84 and on the right hand side of the piston ends 104 of the poppet valve assembly 88. Passageway 108 communicates with control valve 81 at the left hand side of its seat 86 and on the right hand 'side of the piston end""--\ 105 of the poppet valve assembly 89. The pilot valve 102 is provided with a valve body portion 109. It is to be noted that the valve body portion 109 is disposed be# tween passageways 103 and 106 when the operating solenoid (indicated by the reference character 69) is de-energized and this pilot head is held in this position by an expansion spring 110. Communication between passageways 107 and 108 with the common passageway 106 is controlled by spring pressed automatically operated check valves 111 and 112.

Now referring back to Figure 14 and considering that the piston 113 of the cylinder 96 is to be moved upwardly it can be seen that uid under pressure flows through passageway 90, through control valve 80 through passageway 100 to control valve 81, through the control valve and passageway 97 to the bottom of the cylinder. Fluid is exhausted from the top of the cylinder through pipe 95, passageway 94, central chamber 82 of the control valve 80, through passageway 99, through valve 81 and passageway 92 to exhaust pipe 93.

Now referring back to Figure 15 and with the solenoid of the pilot valve energized, the valve body portion 109 of the pilot valve will move past passageway 103 and fluid under pressure will llow through passageway 107 past the check valve 111 (moving the same off of its seat), to common passageway 106, to passageway 103 and to the pistonrends of the poppet valve assemblies 88 Yparting from the spirit f I'he;poppet-y valves will their m'ove to their respective .s eatszSS4v and 87Y ahd flow willbe a's follows: tiuid under pressnr'efwillflow through passageway 90, through con'- tifol valve 80 andthe central chamber 82 thereof, through passageway 94' to the upper end ofthe cylinder 96 forcing thepiston 113 to lower. V Flow of fluid under pressure through Ypassageway 100i to the central chamber 83 of control valve S1, will be prevented due toY the factfthatV v the'poppet valve is on its seat S7, The exhaust from the cylinder 96 will be throughV pipe 98, passageway 97 into central. chamber 83v of the control valve VS1, through the control valve to passageway A92; and out ofY exhaust pipe 93'.' The bore 101 for theipilotrvalve 102 isvented'to the atmosphere asV indicated bythe reference character 114 soth'at whenthe pepper-valve' assemblies 88 and 89 move t'of'zthe left," fluid can" escape" fro'm behind' the piston ends' of the assemblies toV the atmosphere.

Y While I' have shown' pistouoperated'poppet valvesV iii cally trap theV air so that fluttering of the poppet'y valve instances can be' operated infeach directionA by solenoids,

and in fact,'in Figure 16 I have illustrated this. Hence, infthis gure l have shown solenoids' 115 and 116 onV the opposite sides of' the pilot headiand these solenoids engage the opposite ends of the stem of the pilot valve; It is to beialso' noted that the'valveiis'perfectly balanced; asY to pressure'and thus heads 117 and'118 arearranged on each side`A of'Y the valve' body portion 119. Inall other respects, the valveV functions in? the same manner as the valves previously described.' f Y Various'`V changes indetails may" bei made? without dewh'at Iclaim 'as' new is:

lz'A pilot head for use in'conjunction with alvcontrol valve for uid operated pistons and the` likemou'nted for reciprocatory movement in a cylinder, of' the type iin ,cludingla casing' having an inlet supply port .for fluid YunderY pressure; an Vexhaust port and acylinder port, and

haust ports being interchangeable inruse depending upon or the scopeof my invention. but Y whetherrthecontr'ol valve is of the normally open-or of Y the normally closed type,vsaid pilot head havingv apair of passageways for communicating'with the casing; one'of said passageways being adapted for communication'with the casing onY onei side of the rvalveY end of the 4fluid operated valve and the other passageway being adapted to communicateV with ,the casing on the' other side 'I of the Vvalvelend ofthe uid operated valve, said pilot head also with the last named Vpassageway upon the energizing'of thesolenoid operatedvalve; and an independent automatic selectcrfcheck valve ineach of fthepassagcrways ofV said Vpair of passageways, one ofsaid selector ,checkv valves 'beingfmavable Off; 0f its Seat andlheotherosad selector check valves'being held on its seat when said slenoid operatedvalveisenergized-,and said selector check valvebeing returnable to its seat npon-equalizing Aof pressure.

' thereon for Vtrapping vairiin saidpassageways arid'l1 for maintaining. pressurle on the operating, side osaidpid operated `valve' duringy the energizing ofk the'v solenoid operated1valve. l V- f 1.2i A 4piloti head asdenedin claimV V1, and meansfor venting pressure on thezoperatingside Vofr theuidope'r-ij ated valve'when the wsolenoid Ioperated valve is deenerpilot head for use inconjunctionwith a control valve foruid oper-ated double acting'` pistons Vmounted. for reciprocatory movement in a Vcylinder of the type including acasing having anrinletY port,r an exhaust port andports for :communication with,V they opposite ends of theV cy'linde'r, -and' apair of vindependent pistou operated valves in. said vcasing, the? casinghhaving diagonallygels:v

tending vpassagevvays for establishing communication between certanchambers ofthe piston operated valves, said casing alsozhaving apair ofpassagewayscommunieating withthe' piston sidesV of. the pistonoperated valves, andsaidcasing' alsohavinga pair ofpass'ageways com@ municatig withV certain chambers, of the piston operated valves on-the opposite sides'r of the pistons ,fromthe rst mentionedpair ofvpassageways, a normally closed solenid 'operatedY valve for establishingr communication beey tween the two pairs` of-pas'sageways upon the energizing thereof,'and said pilot head having an independent check valve sensitive to pressure ineachone of said-,second pair of passageways, one of said checkrvalves being' adapted to open whenVv the solenoid Vvalve is energized for establish?- ing! communication between its passageway and theiiirs't pair of passageways and said check valve bei'ngls'ea'table upon the balancing of pressure thereon for trapping in` the last mentioned Ypassageway during the energizing f theY solenoid operated valve.

4; A pilot headv as'detned in claim'S, andmeans for venting said r'st' pairof p'assag'eways upon'A the' de-'erier- ,o'fx the solenoid operated valvefiM t Y V5'. A controlvalve for uid operated pistons andthe like mounted for reciprocatory movement inY a'cylindei comprising aA hollow` casingopen at its'opp'osite ends and havingV a 5-:ent'ral` chamber, longitudinally aligned com-` pauoii l valve seats insert'able into the casing throught itsopeii ends an'd having theirl inner endsextending into thecentrali chamber in spaced relationto' one'y another,

Vremitir/able"headsclosingthe open ends ofthe casigland sealing the valve seats-inl plce," a basefsecuredto the for fluid 'under` pressure, an exhaustportarida cylinder port,"V the i cylinder' port "having c'zomr'riunication` with the' central chamber, oreivalve' seat Ahavilff au opening come nunicat'ing with the exhaust port and theI other valve seat having anopening coin'mhnicatihgwith the inlet port, a"piston operated valve operable intheVv central chamber and movable from one valve's'eat to the other for openin'g and closing the valve seats, the valve in one position' establishing' communication' between f the inlet port' and the cylinder port and in' its'- other position establishing communication with` the cylinder portandl exhaust port,

theY piston for said valve being 'slidableinfonerofsaid valve seats, and af-pilo't4 head/carried by'theupper' end'of the casn'gabove the valvestsfsaid pilot head having'a passagewaycommuniatingiwith the casing'aiid the inlet pgf rtfafk ani times mi a passageway'ommuaiaung with Vthetiasingv aid theint'erioi' of onevalve se'at'ov'n the'oper 'ating'gside" o f A the ypistou for'- the valve; and a'nor'mally cIQSed Sle'iioid"`operated pilotY valve'Y iri Y valve seats beingV remov'ahleifrrrthe casing throughY theopen ends'offthe casing without disturbing the pilot e; A centran/sive fer suie @aardbeien @tiene like mounted for reciprocatory movement in a cylinder as dened in claim 5, and said piston operated valve and said solenoid operated valve being disposed in parallel relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultz Dec. 28, 1943 10 10 Lorntzo Aug. 14, 1945 Crum Dec. 4, 1945 Gardner Nov. 11, 1952 Harbst Sept. 1, 1953 Sage Oct. 5, 1954 Gunn Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 24, 1913 

